One of the hottest topics in the news recently has been the use of steroids by athletes. From radio to the best-seller list to the Senate, controversy has only grown during the 2006 baseball season, as Barry Bonds continues his quest to surpass Babe Ruth and break the home run record run by Hank Aaron. which has certainly attracted the most publicity, the problem is certainly not limited to baseball. The bestselling book "Game of Shadows" was written by two journalists who spent months investigating high-profile athletes in various sports, including Olympians like track star Marion Jones. Although it focuses largely on Bonds, this meticulously researched bestseller also details how many other elite sports figures were able to improve themselves on illegal drugs while escaping detection. (Fainaru-Wada) It would be foolhardy to dismiss this problem as a minor problem, or to pretend that with enough negative publicity and public condemnation it will go away on its own. The entire sports community must take a clear, consistent and proactive approach to completely eliminate the use of steroids in all forms of competitive sports. Let's see why this is so important by taking a look at the history of steroids and their negative effects, both physical and otherwise. We will also consider how negative public perception has tarnished the reputation of many sports. What are steroids? Those most commonly used by athletes fall into the category of "anabolic steroids" and are defined by Merriam-Webster as: "...any part of a group of usually synthetic steroid hormones that increase constructive metabolism and are sometimes abused by training athletes to increase tempo...... middle of paper ......ent effective policies. The action begins, but seems to go nowhere. After all, if these athletes were using illegal drugs, shouldn't they be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, as would anyone who used a controlled substance illegally? Somehow this doesn't seem to be happening, even though the FDA has been classifying steroids in this category since 1990. In conclusion, steroid use is a big problem that has had serious consequences on many many competitive sports. From health issues to loss of fan confidence to even possible legal action, steroids have ruined the enjoyment of sports on many levels, and they continue to do so. It is vitally important that all athletes, coaches and sporting organizations recognize this fact. and continue to work together to try to solve the problem more effectively than they have been able to do so far..